2005 Henrico County Public Schools iBook Survey Report
Date: February 10, 2005
Author: Diana Davis, Nadra Garas, Paul Hopstock, Allan Kellum and Todd Stephenson
Affiliation: Development Associates, Inc.
Keywords: ibook, windows, parents, administrators
Summary:
The Henrico County Public School (HCPS) system has implemented a technology program that provides all middle and high school students, teachers and administrators with iBook laptop computers. The goal of the program is to integrate electronic technology throughout the curriculum, including staff development courses for teachers. During the 2003-2004 school year, over 20,000 students participated in the program.
As the iBook contracts expire, the HCPS School Board must make decisions about the future of the program. To guide their decision-making, the School Board sought information on the experiences and opinions of program participants: the students, their teachers, their parents, and school administrators.
Key Findings:
* Middle School Students: Middle school students use their iBooks primarily for class work and homework and conducting research on the Internet. They believe that iBook access to the Internet makes research easier and that iBook use helps them to be better organized. They are not all convinced that iBook use helps them to do better in school. The downside of the program is the repair rate, which seems high.
* High School Students: The high school students use their iBooks for class work and homework and to access the Internet. Also they believe that iBook access to the Internet makes research easier and that iBook use helps them to be better organized. They are not all convinced that iBook use helps them to do better in school. Their iBook repair rate is very similar to that reported by the middle school students.
* All of the students would like to see the technology program continue, but they have different operating system preference profiles. More middle school students than high school students prefer the Apple Macintosh while more high school students than middle school students would like Windows-based laptops.
* Teachers: The teachers report that their workloads have increased, however they feel that it is vary valuable and should be continued. Critical problems for teachers include the fact that not every student brings his or her laptop to class every day, that a small number of students do not participate in the program, and their need for additional training.
Source Article: http://www.henrico.k12.va.us/pdf/technology/hcreport.pdf
